"This is an issue where there are good people on both sides of the issue, and as the court pointed out today, today's ruling is just one step along the pathway toward resolving this. The court recognized the issue will be decided by a higher court, and so we will just continue the effort of defending the Texas Constitution." less

"This is an issue where there are good people on both sides of the issue, and as the court pointed out today, today's ruling is just one step along the pathway toward resolving this. The court recognized the ... more

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

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"As a co-author of the traditional marriage law, today's judgement is judicial activism at its worst. I urge the Fifth Circuit toe overturn this decision and the laws and Constitution of the State of Texas.

"As a co-author of the traditional marriage law, today's judgement is judicial activism at its worst. I urge the Fifth Circuit toe overturn this decision and the laws and Constitution of the State of Texas.

Photo: KIN MAN HUI, San Antonio Express-News

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State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte

"There's a growing movement to apply the law equally to everyone without prejudice. And I welcome it, because that's who we are at our best."

"There's a growing movement to apply the law equally to everyone without prejudice. And I welcome it, because that's who we are at our best."

The Internet can't stop making fun of a Texas Republican senator's Twitter typo

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SAN ANTONIO — Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick found out this week what it feels like to be the punch line of national Internet jokes.

A Twitter typo sent Wednesday by the Houston lawmaker garnered national attention — including on a whitehouse.gov petition, jokes on comedy shows, a trending hashtag of observers creating other “typos” that the senator might post, and snarky articles in numerous publications.

Conan O'Brien joked Wednesday that “a Texas state senator who's opposed to gay marriage accidentally tweeted: 'Marriage is between a man and a man.' The senator said it was a simple mistake, like that time he joined Grindr instead of Christian Mingle.”

Grindr is an online hook-up site for gay people that searches for mates based on location.

Patrick, who admitted Thursday that the tweet was errantly sent by a staff member, tried to salvage the mistake with a well-timed joke that he has an opening for a “social media intern,” but the damage was already done.

Pretty soon after the lieutenant governor candidate sent the erratic tweet, the hashtag #PatrickTwitterTypos began “trending” in Austin, along with a bunch of satirical tweeting.

“In God We Rust,” “God blast Texas,” “The business of the people of Texas is very impotent,” were some examples sent by political observers, all tagged with #PatrickTwitterTypos.

Another tweet sent by an activist in Austin read: “We must protect Texans rights to bare arms! I support legislation outlawing long sleeves.”

A petition filed on the White House's website added fuel to the fire.

“TX State Senator Dan Patrick took a courageous stand for Mens' Rights on Feb 26, 2014,” the petition on the popular site reads. “His bravery underlies the oppression that humans with a Y chromosome and a penis have endured during contemporary times. ... We The People propose that marriage be officially defined, at the Federal level, as being between two dudes.”

According to the White House's rules, if the petition gets 100,000 signatures, the Obama administration must issue a response. As of Thursday afternoon, the petition had fewer than 100 signatures.

Patrick, a conservative radio host in Houston, has been in a Twitter battle with San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro over immigration during the past month.

Judging from his error Wednesday, he may want to take the debate to a different medium.

kparker@express-news.net

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